End gate



Feb. 23 1926. 2 1,574,282

G. A. GARRETT v END GATE Filed March 24, 1925 Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

END GATE.

Application filed March 24, 1925. Serial No. 17,967.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GARFIELD A. GARRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorrance, in the county of Russell and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End Gates, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to end gates for wagons in which the end gate is hinged to the end member of the wagon body by hinges arranged at the top edge of the end gate sorthat the end gate opens upwardly; and it consists in the. novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed whereby the end gate is latched to the wagon body.`

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear end View of one side portion of a wagon body showing a portion of the end gate and a latch constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1. I

The wagon body is of any approved construction having a. bot-tom 5, similar sides 6, and an end member 7 which extends crosswise between the sides at a suitable height above the bottom 5. The end gate 8 is hinged to the end member by similar hinges 9, at its top edge, so that it opens upwardly. Each end of the end gate is provided with a similar latch, and the two latches are formed right and left. Only one latch and portions of the end gate and wagon body are shown, as'the construction is similar at each end of the end gate, and as a single latch can be used to hold it closed, if desired. v

A stitening piece 10 is preferably secured to the end portion of the end gate, and a Vbell-crank lever 12 is pivoted on the stiff` ening piece 10 by a pin 14. The upper part of this lever forms a handle 15 which projects laterally, its middle part forms an arm which projects downwardly below the pivot pin 14, and its lower end portion has a tongue 16 which projects laterally in the opposite direction from the handle 15.

\ signature.

A socket 17 is secured to the side 6 of the wagon body or similar support to receive the tongue 16 of the latching lever, and the tongue i's held in place when the end gate is closedy by the weight of theV handle 15. In order to more securely hold the latch when closed, a helical spring 20 is pivoted at its upper end to a pin 21 secured to the upper part ot the stitfening piece 10, and

is arranged above the pivot pin 14 of theV latching lever. rIhelower end of the spring is hooked over a lug 22 formed on the tongue 16 of the latch. The spring normally holds the tongue in the socket, and prevents it and the end gate from rattling.

The spring presses the tongue upwardly against the top i of the latch socket. As the tongue is below the level of the pvot 14, a very slight movement of the 'handle isrequired to unlatch the end gate, and the spring 20 is not stretched suliciently to injure it.

When the handle is raised the tongue is withdrawn fronrtlie socket `to permit the end gate to be opened. The end gate does not completely close automatically, as the.

tongue of the latch projects over the rear end or edge 24E of the socket, and when once opened the end gate can be opened fully as often as desired. The handle is raised again in order to close. the end gate permanently and lock it against accidental opening when not required.

l/Vhat I claim is:

A latch for an end gate, comprising a bellcrank lever pivoted to the end gate and having a normally horizontal handle arranged radially of its pivot and having also a tongue arranged substantially parallel to the handle and adapted to project over the 'side edge ot' the end gate and engage. with-a socket, and a spring secured to the said tongue and to the end gate abovel the latch pvot.

In testimony whereof `I have alxed my GARFIELD A. GARRETT. 

